Seal



Oct. 31, 1961 G. w. CURTIS 3,006,701

SEAL

Original Filed Oct. 5, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Oct. 31, 1961 OriginalFiled OGb. 5. 1954 W CURTIS SEAL 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent OTimken Roller Bearing Company, Canton,vhio, a corporation of OhioContinuation of application Ser. No. 460,480, Oct. 5, "1954. 'I'hsapplication June 17, 1958, Ser. No. 742,975 9 Claims. (Cl. 30S-187.1)

This application relates generally to the bearing art, and is moreparticularly directed -to a novel seal.

This application is a continuation of my co-pending application SerialNo. 460,480, tiled October 5, 1954 and entitled Seal, now abandoned.

The most effective seals have a sealing surface in contact with arelatively movable element, the seal being under considerable unitpressure -to effect the engagement of its sealing surface with thecooperating surface of the element. A hazard to seal life and eiciencyresults from the pressure of the seal inasmuch as perfect seal contactwould cause the sealing surface to run dry and such condition wouldresult in the scoring of the sealing surface and the early destructionof the seal. To obviate the damage which would result from a dry seal,lubricant must be provided to the sealing surfaces at least during theinitial running period.

It is an object of this invention to provide a seal having multiplesealing surfaces, one of which is in constant sealing engagement with arelatively movable element and another of which will move into sealingengagement during the operation of the sealed structure.

Another object of this invention is to provide a seal having a sealingsurface which comes into contact with its cooperating sealing surfaceduring operation and exerting a light pressure initially and graduallydeveloping a heavier seal pressure during normal operation.

Still another object is to provide a seal having multiple sealingsurfaces with an annular lubricant retaining groove therebetween.

A further object of this invention is to provide a seal having multiplesealing surfaces, one of which has a radial type sealing action andanother of which has an axial type sealing action, with the formertending to prevent the latter from sealing during initial operation.

A still further object is to provide a seal which may be positioned onthe cone or inner race of a tapered roller bearing and having a sealingsurface in rubbing contact against the end face of the cup or outer raceof the bearing.

These and other objects and advantages will become apparent hereinafter.

The invention is embodied in a seal positioned on the inner race of abearing and having multiple sealing surfaces adapted for spaced sealingengagement with the relatively rotatable outer race of the bearing andwith the housing in which said bearing is mounted.

The invention also consists in the parts and in the arrangements andcombinations of parts hereinafter described and claimed. In theaccompanying drawings, which form a part of this specication and whereinlike numerals refer to like parts wherever they occur:

FIG. l is a vertical cross-sectional View of a seal positioned on theinner race of a bearing with the rollers out of contact with the outerrace,

FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view similar to FIG. l, but showingthe rollers in running Contact with said outer, race,

FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 2, but showingthe seal and bearing enclosed in a housing and ready for initialoperation, and

FIG. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view similar to FIG.

Mice

3, but showing the normal operating position of the seal after theinitial running period.

The invention is illustrated as applied to a rotatable axle or shaft 1having a large end 2 and a reduced end 3 with a shoulder 4 therebetween.Mounted on the reduced end 3 is a tapered roller bearing 5 having aninner race or cone 6 and an outer race or cup 7, and `a plurality oftapered rollers 8 therebetween. The rollers 8 are disposed in theopenings of a cage 9 whose large end ring 10 overhangs the thrust rib 11of the cone 6. The outer race 7 of the bearing is mounted within abearing housing 12 (FIGS. 3 and 4) having an annular inner wall -or bore13, which forms into an annular vertical wall 14.

The invention comprises a resilient annular sealing member 15 for theretention of lubricant within the bearing 5 and the exclusion of dirtand moisture therefrom. The sealing member 15 comprises an annularmounting portion 16 and an -annular sealing portion 17, which areconnected by an annular diaphragm `or web 18.

The mounting portion 16 preferably includes a radially extending flange20 and an axially extending flange 21 formed integral therewith. Amounting member 22 adapted to take a press t on the thrust rib 1l of thecone 6 may be provided to position the sealing member 15 relative to thebearing 5. The mounting member 22 is generally L-shaped in cross sectionand may be molded or vulcanized into the anges 20 and 21 of the mountingportion 16 as one means of establishing a seal between the mountingportion 16 and the cone 6. inasmuch as the mounting portion 16 isprovided to rigidly secure the sealing member 15 in iixed position onthe cone 6, it is apparent that it may be modiiied extensively withoutdeparting from the teachings ofthe present invention. When the bearing 5and sealing member 15 are positioned on the shaft 1, the cone 6 of thebearing 5 is mounted on the reduced end 3 of the shaft 1 and has itsthrust rib end in abutting relation with the shoulder 4 of the shaft 1.The inner edges of the radially extending ange 20 and the radial portionof the mounting member 22 are positioned adjacent to the large end 2 ofthe shaft 1. The sealing member 15 is maintained in rotational relationwith the shaft 1 by the positioning of its mounting portion 16 on thecone 6.

The diaphragm or web 1S is formed on the axial flange 21 of the mountingportion 16 adjacent to the radial flange 20 and extends radiallyoutwardly therefrom. The outer peripheral portion of the web 18 isformed into the sealing portion 17 thereby connecting the mountingportion 16 and the sealing portion 17 in one integral annular sealingstructure.

The annular sealing portion 17 of the sealing member 15 includes anaxially extending sealing ring or llange 25 having one end formed intothe diaphragm 18 and having a sealing lip or annular land 26 provided onits unattached end adjacent to the outer race 7. Projecting from thesealing ring 25 adjacent to the diaphragm 18 is a radially extendingannular sealing ring or flange 27 having an outer sealing lip or annularland 28. The functions of the multiple sealing rings 25 and 27 willbecome apparent hereinafter.

An annular V-shaped groove 30 is provided between the radial sealingflange 27 and the diaphragm 18 of the sealing member 15 to increase theilexibility of the radial sealing flange 27 relative to the diaphragm1S. Another annular groove or space 31 is formed between theV axialsealing liange 25 and the radial sealing llange 27 to retain lubricantfor the sealing lips 26 and 28 during the operation of the seal. Theaxial sealing iiange 25 is spaced radially from the axial ange 21 of themounting portion 16, thereby providing a circumferential opening 32adjacent the rollers 8 and in which lubricant is re- `tained for thebearing 5 and which provides running space for the large end ring 10 ofthe conical bearing cage 9.

As shown in FIG. 1, when the resilient sealing member 15 is in itsnormal relaxed position, the radial sealing ring 2'7 extends outwardly,the annular land 28 on its outer end having a larger diameter than theinner Wall or bore 13 of the bearing housing 12 (indicated in dashedlines). Furthermore, the sealing lip 26 of the axial sealing ring 25bears against ra cooperating end sealing surface 35 on the bearing cup 7thereby holding it away from operating position relative to the rollers8. Y

In FIG. 2, the bearing 5 and sealing member 15 have been positioned onthe axle 1 and the bearing cup 7 has been moved into operating positionwith the rollers 8. When so positioned the sealing member has an axialpressure exerted on it through the axial sealing ring 25 by the bearingcup 7, thereby causing the diaphragm 18 to be slightly deformed. Thispressure between the bearing cup 7 land the sealing member 15 representsthe sealing pressure of the axial sealing ring 25 during actualoperation as will be seen hereinafter.

FIG. 3 shows the bearing housing 12 secured in place around 'the bearing5 and the sealing member i15, thereby causing the radial sealing ring 27to be forced in- Wardiy because off the radial interference 0f the innerwall 13 of the bearing housing -12 with the annular land 28. The annularvertical wall 14 of the bearing housing 12 is formed to cooperativelyengage the large end of the outer race 7 so as to maintain it inoperating position relative to the rollers 8. When the radial sealingilange 27 is forced inwardly, the diaphragm 18 is further deformed so'as to exert an outward radial pressure on the radial sealing ange 27and causing its sealing lip 28 to bear against the inner wall 13 of thebearing housing 12 in sealing engagement therewith. This deformation offthe diaphragm 18 causes the sealing lip 26 of the axial sealing flange25 to ybe moved out of contact wit-h the bearing cup 7 so as to providea space 33 therebetween. The space 33 connects the circumferentialopening 32 with the annular space 31 so as to permit the passage .oflubricant therebetween. It is apparent that the space or gap 33 betweenthe sealing lip 26 and the Y bearing cup 7 will continue to exist onlyas long as the initial high radial pressure between the annular land 28and the bearing housing 12 is present.

FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate the relation of the sealing member 15 to thebearing 5 before initial operation and in normal operating positionsrespectively. When the axle 1 is initially set into operation, thebearing cone 6 and the sealing member 15 rotate with it, thereby causingrelative rotation between the sealing lips 26 and 28 and theircooperating seal-ing surfaces on the end sealing surface 35 of thebearing cup 7 and the innerrwall 113 of the bearing housing y12. 'Theinner wall 13 is relatively rough for sealing contact and the radialpressure of the annular land 28 thereagainst Vcauses a rapid lappingaction to take place, thereby decreasing the radial pressure between theinner wall 13 and the sealing lip 28. As the radial pressure decreases,the stress in the diaphragm 18 decreases allowing the sealing ange 25 tomove YaxiallyY toward thebearing cup 7 until its' sealing lipr26 is insealing engagement withthe end sealing surface 35 thereon.

It is apparent that the axial pressure developed between the sealing lip26 and the bearing cup 7 "will develop gradually as the pressure betweenthe annular land 28 and the bearing housing 12 Vdecreases so that anyroughness of the sealing lip 2,6 will have time to wear oi before thesealing pressure develops between the lip 26 and Y the cup 7. Further,the passage of lubricant through the space `33V has caused the sealinglip 26 to be lubricated while being smoothed by theA light rubbingcontact YwithV thegcup 7 so that Ywhen full pressure developstherebetv'veenfthe sealing lip 26 has been lubricated for long life.` Itis also apparent that the presentsealing construction I5 may beV usedVin other bearing constructions or for seal-5 Y invention.

4 ing yagainst other relatively rotatable parts, and that the precisecup 7 and bearing housing 1-2 -are shown only by way of illustration.

This invention is intended to cover all changes and modifications of theexample of the invention herein chosen for the purposes of thedisclosure, which do not constitute departures lfrom the spirit andscope of the What I claim is: Y

1. A sealing member comprising a radially extending diaphragm, amounting portion formed on the inner end of said diaphragm, saidmounting portion including a radially extending `ilange and anaxiallyextending flange, a sealing portion formed on the end of saiddiaphragm radially outwardly from said mountingY portion, said sealingportion including au axially extending sealing ring formed on saiddiaphragm, a radially extending sealing ring formed on said axiallyextending sealing ring adjacent said diaphragm, an annular groove formedbetween said radially extending sealing ring and said diaphragm, asecond annular groove formed between said radially extending sealingring and said axially exending sealing ring, and a third annular grooveformed between said axially extending sealing ring and said axiallyextending flange of said mounting portion adjacent to said diaphragm.

2. A resilient annular sealing member comprising an annular mountingportion adapted to Vbe rigidly positioned on the inner race of abearing, said mounting portion including an axially extending ilange, aflexible annular diaphragm )formed on one end of said axially extendingilange of said mounting portion and extending radially outwardlytherefrom, a sealing portion formed on the outer peripheral end of saiddiaphragm, said sealing portion including a rst annular sealing ring:formed on said diaphragm and extending axially therefrom in spaced re-Vlation with said axially extending ilange of said mounting portion, saidrst sealing ring having an end sealing lip adapted to sealably engage anend of the outer race of a bearing, said sealing portion including aexible second annular sealing ring formed on said first sealing ring andextending radially outwardly therefrom, said second sealf ling ringhavingran end sealing lip adapted to sealably engage a bearing housingfor enclosing said sealing member, and an annular groove between saidsecond sealing ring and said diaphragm whereby the filexibility of saidsecond sealing ring is increased relative to the flexibility Vof saiddiaphragm.

3. A sealing member and a bearing mounted on a shaft and enclosed by abearing housing, said bearing having an inner race and an outer racewith a plurality of lrollers therebetween, said sealing membercomprising a mounting portion including an axial flange positioned onsaid inner race adjacent said rollers, a web formed on one end of saidaxial flange of said mounting portion and `extending radially outwardlytherefrom, a sealing portion formed on the outer end of said weband-including an axially extending sealing ring spaced from said axialVange of said mounting portion so as to form a circumferential openingtherebetween, said axial sealing ring having an end sealing lip -forsealing engagement with said outer race of said bearing, said sealingportion including a radially outwardly extending sealing ring formedn onsaid axial sealing ring, said radial sealingring having an end sealinglip for sealing engagement with said bearing housing.V Y Y 4. An annularsealing member and a bearing mounted on a shaft and enclosed by Tabearing housing, said bear-v therefrom, an annular sealing portionformed on'the outer end of said web, said sealing portion including afirst annular sealing ring formed on said web and extending axiallytherefrom in spaced relation with said axial flange of said mountingportion, said rst sealing ring having an annular sealing lip in abuttingrotation With said outer race of said bearing, said annular sealingportion including a second annular sealing ring formed on said rstsealing ring and extending radially outwardly therefrom, said secondsealing portion having7 a sealing lip in abutting relation with saidybearing housing.

5. In combination, a bearing comprising an inner race having a thrustrib end, an outer race spaced from said inner race, a plurality ofrollers between said inner and outer races, said rollers beingmaintained in spaced alignment by a cage, said bearing being mounted ona shaft having a large end and a reduced end with a shouldertherebetween, said inner race of said bearing being positioned on saidreduced end of said shaft and having its thrust rib end in abuttingrelation With said shoulder, said bearing being enclosed by a bearinghousing having an inner wall abutting said outer race of said bearing;and an annular sealing mem-ber comprising an annular mounting portionhaving an axial flange positioned on said thrust rib end of said innerrace, said mounting portion having a radial ange extending inwardly fromsaid axial flange and adjacent to said thrust rib end of said innerrace, an annular diaphragm formed on said axial `ange of said mountingportion adjacent to said radial flange and extending radially outwardiytherefrom, an annular sealing portion formed on said diaphragm in spacedrelation to said mounting portion, said Sealing portion including anannular sealing ring extending axially from said diaphragm, said axialsealing ring having a sealing lip formed thereon for sealing engagementwith said outer race, said sealing portion including an annular sealingring formed on said axial sealing ring and extending radially outwardlytherefrom, said radial sealing ring having a sealing lip formed thereonin sealing engagement with said inner wall of said bearing housing, saidaxial sealing ring being spaced from said axial ange s-o as to form acircumferential opening therebetween adjacent to said rollerS and inwhich said cage is positioned.

6. An annular sealing member comprising a radially extending diaphragmhaving an inner and an outer end, an axially extending mounting flangeformed on the inner end of said diaphragm, a radially extending mountingflange formed on said axially extending mounting flange adjacent to saiddiaphragm formed thereon, a rigid L- shaped mounting member secured toand maintaining said axial and radial mounting flanges in vfixed angularrelationship, an axially extending sealing ring formed on the outer endof said diaphragm, a radially extending sealing ring formed on saidaxially extending sealing ring adjacent to said diaphragm, each of saidsealing rings having sealing faces formed on their unattached ends, saidaxially extending sealing ring being spaced from said axially extendingmounting Iflange so as to form an opening therebetween.

7. A resilient sealing member comprising a iirst portion in rigid sealedattachment on a first element, a second portion having a rst sealing lipadapted to sealably contact a second element movable relative to saidrst element and a second sealing lip in sealing contact with a thirdelement movable with said second element, said rst sealing lip movinginto sealing contact with said second element after said second sealinglip has been in running contact with said third element for apredetermined time, and a third portion interconnecting said Erst andsecond portions.

8. A resilient annular sealing member comprising a mounting portionadapted to be rigidly positioned on the inner race of a bearing, aflexible diaphragm formed integral with said mounting portion andextending radially outwardly therefrom, a sealing portion formedintegral with said diaphragm in radial spaced relation with saidmounting portion to form an annular channel, said sealing portionincluding a rst sealing ring having a rst end sealing lip adapted to bepositioned in sliding contact with the outer race of the bearing and asecond sealing ring having a second end sealing lip adapted to bepositioned in sliding contact with a bearing housing, said sealing ringsbeing angularly related so that the contact of the second end sealinglip with the bearing housing will .prevent contact of the first endsealing lip on the outer race of the bearing until a predeterminedamount of wear on said second end sealing lip is effected.

9. In combination, a bearing comprising an inner race having a thrustrib and an outer race spaced from said inner race by a plurality ofrollers, said bearing being mounted on a shaft having a large end and areduced end with a shoulder therebetween, said inner race beingpositioned on said reduced end with the thrust rib in abutting relationwith said shoulder, said bearing being enclosed by a bearing housinghaving an inner wall abutting said outer race, and a resilient annularsealing member comprising rigidiied mounting means xedly attached tosaid thrust rib of said inner race, ilexible diaphragm means integrallyformed with said mounting means and extending radially outwardlytherefrom, ilexible sealing means integrally formed with said diaphragmmeans in spaced relation with said mounting means, said sealing meansincluding a first sealing member having an end sealing lip in slidablesealing contact with said bearing housing to deform said diaphragmmeans, a second sealing member having an end sealing lip held in spacedrelation from the Outer race by the deformation of said diaphragm means,said bearing housing and outer race being rotatable relative to saidsealing means whereby rapid wear will be elected on the end sealing lipof said first sealing member to cause said diaphragm means to move theend sealing lip of said second sealing member into slidable sealingcontact with said outer race.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 519,521Bulgiano May 8, 1894 2,350,697 Fetch lune 6, 1944 2,518,829 Smith Aug.15, 1950 2,523,604 Vedovell Sept, 26, 1950 2,560,557 Curtis July 17,l'1951 2,598,094 Augereau May 27, 1952 2,657,104 Kayser Oct. 27, 1953i2,676,041 Englesson Apr. 20, 1954 2,702,206 Sefren Feb. 15, 19552,743,950 Helfrecht May l, 1956 2,878,084 Bermingham Mar. 17, 1959FOREIGN PATENTS 546,26() Great Britain July 3, 1942 890,550 Germany Nov.13, 1950

